China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, has proposed enhanced cooperation between China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand to address the growing threat of cross-border crime, with a specific focus on online gambling and telecom fraud.
According to state-owned media Global Times, during an informal meeting in Chiang Mai with the foreign ministers of Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, Wang Yi emphasized the urgent need for stronger regional collaboration to effectively tackle these criminal activities.
The Ninth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held in Chiang Mai on Friday, saw the heads of delegations from the six Lancang-Mekong countries issue a joint statement. The statement stressed the importance of collective efforts to combat cross-border crimes, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
In his remarks at the meeting, Wang Yi highlighted security as a crucial foundation for national development. He noted that the four countries have conducted a series of joint operations against cross-border crime, leading to the arrest of over 50,000 individuals involved in gambling and fraud since last year.
Wang called for enhanced border controls to secure national boundaries and manage key entry points to prevent illegal crossings. He also advocated for improved intelligence sharing, continuous joint operations, and swift action to apprehend and repatriate criminals who have fled across borders.
This marks the second consecutive year that the four nations have discussed this cooperation. Last year, the establishment of a cooperation center was announced in Thailand’s Chiang Mai province.
